The complete history of the US State of the Union address
The State of the Union address is derived from Article II, Section 3 of the US Constitution, which states that presidents "shall from time to time give to the Congress information about the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." This has been interpreted differently by various presidents over the course of history, given how vaguely worded it is.
It's not required that presidents deliver information on the "state of the union" in an oral speech, but that's how it was initially done. In the first 12 years of the existence of the US, Presidents George Washington and John Adams both delivered their State of the Union addresses before Congress.
Source: National Archives
On January 8, 1790, Washington delivered the first State of the Union address before Congress in New York City, which was still the US capital at the time.
Source: National Archives
President Thomas Jefferson ended the tradition of delivering a speech before Congress, and instead opted to send a written message to lawmakers. Jefferson felt that delivering an address before Congress was too aristocratic and similar to practices in monarchies.
Source: Vox
Subsequent presidents followed Jefferson's example for over a century. But the precedent the third president established was eventually broken by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.
Source: National Archives
Wilson was the first president to deliver the executive's message in an oral speech before Congress since 1801. At the time, The Washington Post reported that lawmakers were "agape" at Wilson's break from tradition. "Washington is amazed," the newspaper reported.
Source: Twitter
Since Wilson, most presidents have delivered their message to Congress in person.
The "state of the union" was a phrase first popularized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His speech was informally referred to as the state of the union "address" or "message."
Source: Vox
President Harry S. Truman officially named the speech the "State of the Union address," and the rest is history.
Source: National Archives
President Ronald Reagan started the practice of inviting special guests, often ordinary Americans who've performed an act of heroism or people who help the president make specific policy points.
Source: Vox
Reagan also holds the record for the shortest State of the Union address, delivering his 1986 speech in approximately 31 minutes.
Source: The American Presidency Project
The longest State of the Union in history was delivered by President Bill Clinton in 2000, clocking in at around 89 minutes.
Source: The American Presidency Project
Some State of the Union addresses have been more impactful or memorable than others and the influence of the speech has perhaps been exaggerated at times. But it is a vital opportunity for the president to grab the attention of Congress, the US public, and, in many ways, the world to address whatever they feel is most important in that moment.
Source: INSIDER
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